Zimbabwe election: UK warn government to remove troops from Harare

The situation remains tense in the capital.

Britain told the Zimbabwe government on Thursday that the military should be taken off the streets of Harare after a fatal crackdown on demonstrators following the presidential elections.

Soldiers and police cleared the streets of the city centre a day after the clampdown, as the Zimbabwean authorities begged for patience over the release of the election results. The British embassy in Harare tweeted in a statement:

“We condemn the excessive use of force by the security forces towards demonstrators.”

“The British ambassador met government ministers yesterday and again today and made clear that the military should be removed from the streets of Harare and the security forces should act with the utmost restraint.”

British Embassy in Zimbabwe says it condemns the use of excessive force by security forces in the country and has made it clear to the Zimbabwean government that the military should be removed from Harare

The vote – the first since autocrat Robert Mugabe was ousted last year – turned bloody on Wednesday when troops opened fire on demonstrations against alleged electoral fraud, leaving three dead and prompting an international outcry. The British embassy statement said.

“We welcome the statement by the president that there will be an independent investigation and we look forward to this being implemented quickly.”

“Zimbabwe is experiencing a period of heightened tension around the presidential election. All political leaders have a responsibility to ensure they do not raise tensions or issue statements that make violence more likely.”

Britain is the former colonial power in Zimbabwe, which gained its independence in 1980 under Mugabe. Mugabe ruled for 37 years before he was the target of a “bloodless coup” that removed him from office last year.

Uncle Bob even claimed he would be voting for MDC this election, turning his back on the party he lead for almost four decades.